Ecuador Slow To Back Protest Of The President

Other news to note - Caribbean & Latin America

January 16, 2000

QUITO, Ecuador - Ecuadorean indigenous groups began a nationwide protest Saturday with promises to paralyze the Andean country until President Jamil Mahuad steps down. Mahuad, accused by critics of failing to show leadership, told Congress he would maintain order. ``We have a constitution and laws, and protesters cannot act above them,'' Mahuad told Congress in a two-hour speech focusing on his radical plan to revitalize the economy. The protest appeared to get off to a slow start, with no major incidents reported.